Charlie Walker (musician)

Charlie Walker (November 2, 1926 – September 12, 2008)^[1] was an American country musician born in Copeville, Texas. He held membership in the Grand Ole Opry from 1967, and was inducted into the Country Radio DJ Hall of Fame in 1981.^[2]

Career

Walker worked as a disc jockey in the early 1950s before signing with Decca Records. His first hit, "Only You, Only You" was co-written with Jack Newman and reached #9 on the country chart in January 1956. Walker later signed with Columbia Records and reached #2 with a Harlan Howard song, "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down". His other hits include "Who Will Buy the Wine", "Wild as a Wildcat", "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon", and "I Wouldn't Take Her To A Dog Fight Even If I Thought That She Could Win". Many of his records featured harmony vocals by Ray Price. Walker played a minor role in the 1985 Patsy Cline biographical film Sweet Dreams.^[2] Walker is survived by his wife Connie and 10 children: Ronnie, Cindy, Arthur, Charlie III, Elissa, Charlene, Catherine, Christina, Caroline and Charlton; along with 15 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.;^[3] he died of colon cancer at the age of 81 in Hendersonville, Tennessee.^[2]

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

Pugh, Ronnie (1998). "Charlie Walker". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 567.

External links

• Charlie Walker's Grand Ole Opry member page